SPS Apollo Hospitals Organises Seminar on World Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Day

Ludhiana, July 15, 2014: The 15th of July is celebrated as the World Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Day. To mark this event, the Department of Plastic & Microvascular Surgery held interactive seminar with parents and staff on the issues of preventing facial injuries in children. Dr.Samta Goyal (In-charge Emergency) said that over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of children reporting in the emergency with severe facial injuries including fractures and associated head injuries due to falls and road accidents. Dr.Ashish Gupta, Consultant & Head, Department of Plastic & Microvascular Surgery, SPS Apollo Hospitals Ludhiana said that, “Due to high speed road accidents more and more children are falling prey to facial fractures and head injuries as mostly they are in the laps of their mothers or grandparents, not wearing seatbelts and/or children car seats at the time of the accident and get flung off into the windshield or out of the window when it happens. Any injury leaves a scar and any fracture of the facial bones can lead to disfigurement for life, requiring multiple surgeries for their correction as the child grows.”
Dr Gupta mentioned that Apollo Hospital is already engaged in “Save A Hand, Save A Family Campaign” since 15th July 2012 for factory workers and the Department of Plastic & Microvascular surgery shall take up the campaign “For A Safe Childhood” from 2014 by conducting seminars in colleges and schools for awareness amongst the youth about the serious consequences of rash driving and underage driving highlighting the importance of following traffic rules. Practicing various first aid measures in case you witness an accident and save a life.
Dr Sanchit Garg, Consultant, Dept of Plastic & Micro vascular Surgery also emphasised that by taking following preventive steps injuries in children can be prevented:
•    Install child car seat on the rear seat.
•    Avoid sitting with the child in the front seat as air bags can cause more injury than harm to your child.
•    Drive slow (60km/hr)
•    Have a “Baby on Board” sticker on the rear windshield.
•    You should always wear a seat belt if you have a child in your lap.
•    Do not allow underage driving.